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Snow Bear
When Bessie decides to explore a frozen ice ship one morning, she finds a new playmate—a baby polar bear. Snow Bear and Bessie are instant friends, but Bessie’s brother and Snow Bear’s mother are worried. The grown-ups wait and watch the little ones play until something happens that will break up the happy pair. With simple text and lavish illustrations, this Arctic picture book will warm readers’ hearts.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
116 people want to read
About the author
Jean Craighead George
205 books1,530 followersJean Craighead George wrote over eighty popular books for young adults, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain. Most of her books deal with topics related to the environment and the natural world. While she mostly wrote children's fiction, she also wrote at least two guides to cooking with wild foods, and an autobiography, Journey Inward.
The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."
The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 2, 2019
When I read there was going to be simple text, I got worried, because I hate simple text. Sparse writing annoys me and feels like the author is being lazy and doing as little as possible. What I hate even more than that are pages without any writing at all. What a total waste. I can't stand when authors make readers put the story together themselves without explaining it.
I thought it was odd that the mother bear had a name, Nanuq, which I assumed was their word for polar bear, because I just read East and the name for polar bear in that language was similar to this word. And her cub was called Snow Bear. Like she named him or something. And how the mom come to be named? Also, Snow Bear was huge to be a cub, way bigger than Bessie, like dangerous-for-a-kid big.
It was nice that it showed the POV from people and bears. Her brother saw the bear tracks following his sister's and knew she was in danger because bears kill humans. The mom smelled him and his gun and knew her cub was in danger because humans kill bears.
I didn't buy that the cub would have been so far from its mom in the first place.
Vincent watched Bessie play with Snow Bear, and said cubs are friendly. Nanuq watched and said children are friendly. Uh, no you didn't. You did not just have a wild animal make the distinction of an adult versus a kid. I can guarantee you a polar bear doesn't know the difference between an adult and child or have the thought that a person is friendly...they are dangerous wild animals that would kill the first living thing, especially if it was near their baby.
Nanuq and Vincent each looked for each other (because it's more likely that a protective mother bear would pass up the person in direct contact with their cub and instead seek out the adult in the vicinity that they haven't actually seen..). His dad has told him that in the Arctic you can't rush things, and the answers will come if you wait. I wasn't really sure what that was in regards to..
I did like learning that when polar bears get hot they dig little snow caves out and sit down. Bessie was cold so she sat beside him and she grew warm while she cooled off. From watching TV, I already knew that male polar bears kill cubs. So when Nanuq saw the male she ran to her cub. They all knew how dangerous a male bear is, but when he smelled Vincent's gun he went back in the water. For some reason the author had the bears now what a gun smells like and associate it with danger...Just the smell of a human would be enough to scare them, not a gun. Nanuq and Snow Bear went inland and will eat sedges and lemmings, whatever they are. And he'll stay with her until he's so big male bears can't hurt him.
The kids go home to eat, and they attend school and learn about the Arctic like Eskimo kids do.
The iceberg that was shaped like a ship dislodged and went back to sea.
The end.
It was so unfulfilling and strange. It seemed to be about a girl learning from a polar bear in the beginning, then it morphed to polar bear habits and then to the schedules of this culture, what icebergs do. It was so on the surface that it didn't delve deeply enough into any of these subjects. I don't know much more about polar bears, or this group of people, or the ice flows in the Arctic.
It's very, very simple.
I was impressed to learn that she's an environmentalist, but puzzled how an environmentalist would have written this, because the fact that animals are having human thoughts about humans is directly against environmentalism and teaches kids false ideas. This might make a kid think that they can go up to a polar bear and play because polar bears like kids...like how dangerous of a thought is that? (If kids find themselves wandering the Arctic that is...) But it's so dangerous and unethical to put this thought into a kid's head.
The illustrations are the best part about the book and without them there would be nothing to offer. The pretty sky of different shades of blue with white stars. I really liked their brown parkas and boots and designs on them. They stand out against their backgrounds. The skies with the different colors reminded me of the northern lights.
The best pages were the ones where the skin and snow were orange like from the sunset, and the bears were going their way and the kids the other. And the last ones showing the big blue iceberg and the orange sky with the polar bear standing on it.
This just needed more to offer.
I thought it was odd that the mother bear had a name, Nanuq, which I assumed was their word for polar bear, because I just read East and the name for polar bear in that language was similar to this word. And her cub was called Snow Bear. Like she named him or something. And how the mom come to be named? Also, Snow Bear was huge to be a cub, way bigger than Bessie, like dangerous-for-a-kid big.
It was nice that it showed the POV from people and bears. Her brother saw the bear tracks following his sister's and knew she was in danger because bears kill humans. The mom smelled him and his gun and knew her cub was in danger because humans kill bears.
I didn't buy that the cub would have been so far from its mom in the first place.
Vincent watched Bessie play with Snow Bear, and said cubs are friendly. Nanuq watched and said children are friendly. Uh, no you didn't. You did not just have a wild animal make the distinction of an adult versus a kid. I can guarantee you a polar bear doesn't know the difference between an adult and child or have the thought that a person is friendly...they are dangerous wild animals that would kill the first living thing, especially if it was near their baby.
Nanuq and Vincent each looked for each other (because it's more likely that a protective mother bear would pass up the person in direct contact with their cub and instead seek out the adult in the vicinity that they haven't actually seen..). His dad has told him that in the Arctic you can't rush things, and the answers will come if you wait. I wasn't really sure what that was in regards to..
I did like learning that when polar bears get hot they dig little snow caves out and sit down. Bessie was cold so she sat beside him and she grew warm while she cooled off. From watching TV, I already knew that male polar bears kill cubs. So when Nanuq saw the male she ran to her cub. They all knew how dangerous a male bear is, but when he smelled Vincent's gun he went back in the water. For some reason the author had the bears now what a gun smells like and associate it with danger...Just the smell of a human would be enough to scare them, not a gun. Nanuq and Snow Bear went inland and will eat sedges and lemmings, whatever they are. And he'll stay with her until he's so big male bears can't hurt him.
The kids go home to eat, and they attend school and learn about the Arctic like Eskimo kids do.
The iceberg that was shaped like a ship dislodged and went back to sea.
The end.
It was so unfulfilling and strange. It seemed to be about a girl learning from a polar bear in the beginning, then it morphed to polar bear habits and then to the schedules of this culture, what icebergs do. It was so on the surface that it didn't delve deeply enough into any of these subjects. I don't know much more about polar bears, or this group of people, or the ice flows in the Arctic.
It's very, very simple.
I was impressed to learn that she's an environmentalist, but puzzled how an environmentalist would have written this, because the fact that animals are having human thoughts about humans is directly against environmentalism and teaches kids false ideas. This might make a kid think that they can go up to a polar bear and play because polar bears like kids...like how dangerous of a thought is that? (If kids find themselves wandering the Arctic that is...) But it's so dangerous and unethical to put this thought into a kid's head.
The illustrations are the best part about the book and without them there would be nothing to offer. The pretty sky of different shades of blue with white stars. I really liked their brown parkas and boots and designs on them. They stand out against their backgrounds. The skies with the different colors reminded me of the northern lights.
The best pages were the ones where the skin and snow were orange like from the sunset, and the bears were going their way and the kids the other. And the last ones showing the big blue iceberg and the orange sky with the polar bear standing on it.
This just needed more to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2019
The writing was so simple, and written in a way that makes you read in a robotic voice. It just wasn’t pleasant.
When I reread the synopsis and saw where it said this was written in ‘beautifully simple text’ I was confused as to why that would be called beautiful. It’s not a good thing.
The text didn’t match the illustrations, which were actually good.
The name Nanuq was familiar. I've heard it in a movie or something.
'Bessie is in danger. Mother polar bears kill people who threaten their cubs. He follows the tracks.'
'Snow Bear, her cub, is in danger. Humans kill bears.'
'Bessie goes one way around the ship. Snow Bear goes the other way. They meet on the far side.'
'Snow Bear licks Bessie's nose. Bessie hugs Snow Bear. He turns a somersault. Bessie turns a somersault. Snow Bear falls over backward. Bessie falls over backward. They sit up and look at each other.'
'Little cubs are friendly' and then 'children are friendly.'
'Vincent looks for Nanuq. Nanuq looks for Vincent. Vincent remembers his father's words: "The Arctic cannot be rushed. If we wait, the answers will come. Vincent waits. Nanuq waits.'
That implies that Nanuq knows of Vincent's father's saying, and is deciding to wait, too.
'Bessie climbs. She slides down to Snow Bear. Snow Bear runs in circles. His fur and his fat make him hot. He digs a snow cave and sits in it. Bessie is cold. She sits beside Snow Bear.'
'Vincent waits. Nanuq waits. Bessie and Snow Bear wait. The Arctic will not be rushed.' What are Bessie and Snow Bear waiting for? Maybe for her to warm up and him to cool off?
I did like how the next sentences say inside the snow cave Bessie grows warmer, and Snow Bear grows cooler, because it showed the differences between them. Even though they're playing and doing the same things, they're having different experiences out in the cold. Snow Bear looked cute there.
I don't think you should say mother bears will kill people who threaten their cubs in a kid’s book. That might be a little scary to them.
I was surprised the thing that happened that tore them apart was just a male polar bear appearing. I expected something different.
Nanuq sees the male polar bear, which is more dangerous than Vincent, because they kill whatever moves, even polar bear cubs. I've seen on tv that male polar bears will kill cubs.
At the same time, Vincent sees the male polar bear, and knows it's more dangerous than a mother bear with a cub.
Bessie and Snow Bear also spot the bear, and run back the way they came.
It was a little anticlimactic the way it ended up not being a real threat. He just sank back into the water when he smelled Vincent's gun.
It shows the differences in the humans and bears' lives when it says the bears go further inland and will eat sedges(whatever that is) and lemmings until Snow Bear grows big enough where no male bear will hurt him. Vincent and Bessie go home to eat, go to school, and learn the wisdom of the Arctic like Eskimo children do.
This ended up a tad depressing. The ice cap ship floats away. They don’t even speak or anything after going separate ways.
I realized there was no point to the story, no lesson or anything to take away. Except maybe to show the difference of two lives out in the Arctic and how they can come together.
The best thing about this was the pictures, which were pretty.
I loved the clothing that Bessie and Vincent wore, and how it shows Eskimo culture.
The first page, with the blue/white ice, blue sky and stars was very pretty.
There's also a scene of the iceberg during the day, and the sky is blue, green and yellow. When I looked through the book again, I noticed that the shadow of the bear and the shadow of Bessie are on either side of the iceberg while her brother starts to follow her.
The page where the brother and sister, and cub and mom bear are walking away is pretty too; the snow is pink and cream-colored, and the sky is orange and yellow.
The last page shows the dark blue ice berg, and the orange sky, and the polar bear is on the ice ship.
When I reread the synopsis and saw where it said this was written in ‘beautifully simple text’ I was confused as to why that would be called beautiful. It’s not a good thing.
The text didn’t match the illustrations, which were actually good.
The name Nanuq was familiar. I've heard it in a movie or something.
'Bessie is in danger. Mother polar bears kill people who threaten their cubs. He follows the tracks.'
'Snow Bear, her cub, is in danger. Humans kill bears.'
'Bessie goes one way around the ship. Snow Bear goes the other way. They meet on the far side.'
'Snow Bear licks Bessie's nose. Bessie hugs Snow Bear. He turns a somersault. Bessie turns a somersault. Snow Bear falls over backward. Bessie falls over backward. They sit up and look at each other.'
'Little cubs are friendly' and then 'children are friendly.'
'Vincent looks for Nanuq. Nanuq looks for Vincent. Vincent remembers his father's words: "The Arctic cannot be rushed. If we wait, the answers will come. Vincent waits. Nanuq waits.'
That implies that Nanuq knows of Vincent's father's saying, and is deciding to wait, too.
'Bessie climbs. She slides down to Snow Bear. Snow Bear runs in circles. His fur and his fat make him hot. He digs a snow cave and sits in it. Bessie is cold. She sits beside Snow Bear.'
'Vincent waits. Nanuq waits. Bessie and Snow Bear wait. The Arctic will not be rushed.' What are Bessie and Snow Bear waiting for? Maybe for her to warm up and him to cool off?
I did like how the next sentences say inside the snow cave Bessie grows warmer, and Snow Bear grows cooler, because it showed the differences between them. Even though they're playing and doing the same things, they're having different experiences out in the cold. Snow Bear looked cute there.
I don't think you should say mother bears will kill people who threaten their cubs in a kid’s book. That might be a little scary to them.
I was surprised the thing that happened that tore them apart was just a male polar bear appearing. I expected something different.
Nanuq sees the male polar bear, which is more dangerous than Vincent, because they kill whatever moves, even polar bear cubs. I've seen on tv that male polar bears will kill cubs.
At the same time, Vincent sees the male polar bear, and knows it's more dangerous than a mother bear with a cub.
Bessie and Snow Bear also spot the bear, and run back the way they came.
It was a little anticlimactic the way it ended up not being a real threat. He just sank back into the water when he smelled Vincent's gun.
It shows the differences in the humans and bears' lives when it says the bears go further inland and will eat sedges(whatever that is) and lemmings until Snow Bear grows big enough where no male bear will hurt him. Vincent and Bessie go home to eat, go to school, and learn the wisdom of the Arctic like Eskimo children do.
This ended up a tad depressing. The ice cap ship floats away. They don’t even speak or anything after going separate ways.
I realized there was no point to the story, no lesson or anything to take away. Except maybe to show the difference of two lives out in the Arctic and how they can come together.
The best thing about this was the pictures, which were pretty.
I loved the clothing that Bessie and Vincent wore, and how it shows Eskimo culture.
The first page, with the blue/white ice, blue sky and stars was very pretty.
There's also a scene of the iceberg during the day, and the sky is blue, green and yellow. When I looked through the book again, I noticed that the shadow of the bear and the shadow of Bessie are on either side of the iceberg while her brother starts to follow her.
The page where the brother and sister, and cub and mom bear are walking away is pretty too; the snow is pink and cream-colored, and the sky is orange and yellow.
The last page shows the dark blue ice berg, and the orange sky, and the polar bear is on the ice ship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2019
The beautiful illustrations kept my three year old engaged, but I don’t think she was able to follow the story. This would probably be better for children in kindergarten through third grade.
August 28, 2011
I just got a pile of books from the used book store, including this title. I was quite surprised when my active 20-month-old son sat still long enough to listen to the entire thing... even more surprised that this is now a frequent reading choice for him. I really thought the text was too long and not exciting enough. However, he really enjoys the beautiful paintings of the girl and the polar bear cub, and he loves the gentle cadences of the words.
Personally, I think the story is wonderful. It reads not-quite like a fable. It strikes me as something a child would be drawn to, understanding something of its truth almost instinctively, but not fully comprehending until later in life.
Overall, very gentle, understated, and wise.
Personally, I think the story is wonderful. It reads not-quite like a fable. It strikes me as something a child would be drawn to, understanding something of its truth almost instinctively, but not fully comprehending until later in life.
Overall, very gentle, understated, and wise.
September 23, 2014
This book has beautiful illustrations that would capture any child's attention, but it does not have much of a message to it. I would allow the children to read this book during silent reading, but I wouldn't incorporate it into a lesson plan unless we were studying arctic life. I do enjoy that the author and illustrator did a wonderful job showcasing the beauty of a human being coexisting with a wild polar bear. I feel like it would instill a sense of respect for nature and wild animals in children after they finished reading it.
March 19, 2013
This is a sweet and entertaining story about a little girl and a polar bear cub. The danger from mama polar bear lurks throughout, but overall, it's a fun story that shows the curiosity of the young. The illustrations are wonderful and I enjoyed looking at the pictures as much as I liked the story.
March 2, 2023
What a beautiful story, sparse in words but full of messages and meaning! It reminded me that though our "job" and our mission is to take care of our own, we are not the only sentient beings on the earth and there are others whose goals are just the same. I love that the "children" in the story found common ground and played together despite, and without knowledge of, the fear of their elders. Loved this!
April 25, 2019
Picture book. Sweet story of an Eskimo girl who encounters a polar bear cub, and the fun they have together, each watched over by a protector — until real danger appears! Beautifully illustrated. Recommended.
March 5, 2017
Pantings of bears and landscape are beautiful. Story reminds me of Blueberries for Sal.
May 31, 2017
A parallel story of a little girl and a baby polar bear.
February 3, 2018
Review to come.
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May 2, 2020A cute story about a girl and a bears friendship in the Arctic. This book could also be seen as a good multicultural book.
June 4, 2021
A sweet book with gorgeous illustrations. The friendship between the little girl and baby polar bear is really moving.
June 20, 2021
Beautiful
June 20, 2021
Beautiful
January 9, 2022
The illustrations were wonderful and the story was about the threats bears and humans are to one another. On a lighter note, the interactions between the young girl and polar bear cub were adorable.
October 4, 2022
A cute story with beautiful art and slightly stunted sentences that doesn’t detract from the story though.
December 23, 2014
Kirkus Reviews (1999)
In this sweetly sentimental story set in the frozen twilight of an Arctic spring, George (Morning, Noon, and Night, p. 699, etc.) tells of an Inuit girl who goes out to hunt. Bessie Nivyek sets out with her big brother, Vincent, to hunt for food; in a twist out of McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal, Bessie bumps into a young bear, and they frolic: climbing, sliding, somersaulting, and cuddling. Vincent spies the tracks of his little sister and follows, wary of the mother bear; the mother bear is just as wary of Vincent. Out of the water rears danger to both the child and cub--a huge male polar bear. The mother bear warns her cub; it runs away, as does Bessie. Brother and sister head back home, "to eat, go to school, and learn the wisdom of the Arctic like Eskimo children do." The brief text is lyrical and the illustrations are striking, with an impressively varied palette of white, in blue, green, yellow, and gold. Children who note that Vincent goes home empty-handed will wonder why he didn't hunt any of the polar bears that were within range. While children will enjoy this romantic view of Bessie and the bear, those seeking a more realistic representation of life in this harsh environment will be unsatisfied.
In this sweetly sentimental story set in the frozen twilight of an Arctic spring, George (Morning, Noon, and Night, p. 699, etc.) tells of an Inuit girl who goes out to hunt. Bessie Nivyek sets out with her big brother, Vincent, to hunt for food; in a twist out of McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal, Bessie bumps into a young bear, and they frolic: climbing, sliding, somersaulting, and cuddling. Vincent spies the tracks of his little sister and follows, wary of the mother bear; the mother bear is just as wary of Vincent. Out of the water rears danger to both the child and cub--a huge male polar bear. The mother bear warns her cub; it runs away, as does Bessie. Brother and sister head back home, "to eat, go to school, and learn the wisdom of the Arctic like Eskimo children do." The brief text is lyrical and the illustrations are striking, with an impressively varied palette of white, in blue, green, yellow, and gold. Children who note that Vincent goes home empty-handed will wonder why he didn't hunt any of the polar bears that were within range. While children will enjoy this romantic view of Bessie and the bear, those seeking a more realistic representation of life in this harsh environment will be unsatisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 8, 2012First of all, I loved the pictures in this book. The drawings of the little polar bear and the young girl was so amazing. In the start of the book it said that polar bears kills humans, and humans kill polar bears. I did not like that statement because I do not really believe that polar bears or humans necessarily do that unless we scare them or threatens them. But, later in the book I could se a wonderful and loving friendship between Bessie and the polar bear cub. For me the book was all about the relationship between a human and a animal, and I loved the story about that. Humans and animals can live in harmony! I think this book is great to read with elementary school children and talk about human and animal relations and also about different environments around the world.
January 8, 2016
I happen to be an admirer of Jean Craighead George. She has introduced many aspects of the natural world to children of all ages. With her death, we have lost a caring voice for the environment.
This tale introduces a world that is totally unfamiliar to most children. A world of snow and ice and life. No modern technology here. A glimpse into the nature of polar bears is what George chose to highlight. And my youngest nephew (age 2.5) happens to love polar bears. (He also likes puffins, elephants and hippos, with the hippos being his current favorite.)
From the book: Vincent remembers his father's words: "The Arctic cannot be rushed. If we wait, the answers will come."
In this fast-paced world, this is a message I want the kids to hear.
This tale introduces a world that is totally unfamiliar to most children. A world of snow and ice and life. No modern technology here. A glimpse into the nature of polar bears is what George chose to highlight. And my youngest nephew (age 2.5) happens to love polar bears. (He also likes puffins, elephants and hippos, with the hippos being his current favorite.)
From the book: Vincent remembers his father's words: "The Arctic cannot be rushed. If we wait, the answers will come."
In this fast-paced world, this is a message I want the kids to hear.
March 22, 2010
Snow Bear By: Jean Craighead George ISBN: 0-7868-1733-X, 1999.
When Bessie goes out exploring on an ice ship she meets a new friend to play with, a baby snow bear. Her brother, Vincent, goes looking for his sister afraid that Nanua(the mother of the snow bear) will harm his sister. When Vincent and Nanua find Bessie and snow bear they discover them just in time, because a male polar bear is watching them play! Vincent and Nanua quickly retrieve their young and return to their own surroundings where it is safe.
**The story takes place in the arctic & could be used to show how humans and male and female polar bears get along.
When Bessie goes out exploring on an ice ship she meets a new friend to play with, a baby snow bear. Her brother, Vincent, goes looking for his sister afraid that Nanua(the mother of the snow bear) will harm his sister. When Vincent and Nanua find Bessie and snow bear they discover them just in time, because a male polar bear is watching them play! Vincent and Nanua quickly retrieve their young and return to their own surroundings where it is safe.
**The story takes place in the arctic & could be used to show how humans and male and female polar bears get along.
August 1, 2016
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations which we attempted to draw ourselves as well. The expressions and settings are simple and breath taking. We thoroughly enjoyed the story as well of a child connecting and playing with a young polar bear. Both were protected by their bear and human caregivers but also allowed to enjoy their moment of play. Interrupted by a threat to both human and polar bear, both children run back to their respective kind but have a moment of sheer joy to remember.
March 21, 2013
This book is about an unusal freindship of a young girl named Bessie and a Snow Bear. One morning Bessie decides to explore a frozen ice ship; this is when she finds a baby polar bear. They become friends, but Bessie's brother and Snow Bear's mother are worried. Unfortunitly their freindship is in jepordy. 1st-5th
February 12, 2013
I gave this five start becuase we just enjoyed reading it for some reason and read it several times. The illustrations are really,really captivating. You learn a bit about Inuits and polar bears and its a sweet story of two very different friends meeting and playing and not noticing their differences.
August 16, 2015
Except for the Alaskan setting, this reminded me a little of McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal. (Blueberries for Sal) In this case, the little girl and the little polar bear meet and play together, while mother polar bear and girl's brother watch.
Minor's paintings are, as usual, gorgeous.
Minor's paintings are, as usual, gorgeous.
April 29, 2011
I thought this book would great to introduce artic life and polar bears to the classroom (early elementary). Although the premise is a little far-fetched, I think kids would enjoy it.
May 22, 2011
love Wendell Minor's art and jean Craighead George's writing!
September 26, 2011
I just like the Arctic stories it seems. This one has fantastic illustrations and a good balance of text.
June 16, 2012
cute book! My 2 year old kept looking back through the pictures after the story was over, and roaring at the bears. I'm sure we'll be reading this one more, and soon.
August 30, 2012
I love this book! A book about differences and how those differences can be over come. Friends can come in the most unlikely places.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews